A "violent" HMP Frankland prisoner attacked a guard and left him needing 12 stitches after grabbing hold of his ear.
Christopher Phillips caused serious injury to the guard after attacking him in his cell at the category A men's prison in Brasside, County Durham, on March 17, last year. The 40-year-old knocked the male guard to the floor before gripping hold of his ear, which resulted in the man being taken to hospital.
Phillips appeared at Durham Crown Court via link from HMP Durham on Wednesday to be sentenced for unlawful wounding. He pleaded guilty to the charge at a previous hearing.